Rubber heel.



'No. s5a,44|. Paten'tod Sept. 25, I900.

w. E. HERBST.

RUBBER HEEL.

(Application filed Fb. 2a, 1900.

llmrsn STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

WEN DELL E. HERBST, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

RUBBER HEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 658,441, dated September 25, 1900.

Application filed February 23; 1900- Serial No. 6,205. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WENDELL E. HERBST, a citizen of the United States of America, re-' siding and having post-office address at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Rubber Heels, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view of that face of the heel which is undermost when the heel is affixed to a boot or shoe. The dotted lines denote an open-center metal plate, which is embedded in the heel in the process of manufacture. Fig. 2 is a view in central vertical section of the heel shown in Fig. 1 on the plane denoted by the dotted line x.

The object of the improvement is the production of a rubber heel adapted to be attached to the heel of a boot or shoe of leather, rubber, or other suitable material.

In the accompanying drawings the letter Ct denotes the body of the heel in general. The material thereof is rubber or rubber compound, and it is designed to be shaped and formed in a suitable mold.

The letter 1) denotes an open-center metal plate, which is embedded in the heel-body in the process of manufacture. It aids in giving strength, elasticity, and durability to the heel.

The letter 0 denotes a recess in the outer face of the heel, meaning by outer that face which is lowermost when the heel is attached to a boot or shoe. This recess assists in giving a so-c-alled sucker action when the heel is placed upon a level surface, thereby increasing its frictional hold on that surface. It also assists in giving the outer face of the heel such a shape that as it wears it preserves this sucker action and assists the frictional hold of the heel generally. All

solid-faced heels are liable to slip on wet walks or pavements. This recess is so shaped as not to collect or hold dirt. The letter (1 denotes a similar recess on the inner face of the heel. Its presence there as an air-space assists in facilitating a close union of the heel to a boot or shoe when it is fastened thereto. It also so thins the heel-bodyin connection with the recess 0 as to assist the sucker action already referred to.

The letter 6 denotes a fin extending peripherally from the rubber heel next the inner surface. It may be of rubber or leather or other suitable material, preferably the material first named. This fin is either an integral part of the rubber heel or is firmly molded to or in it. Its object is to enable a close and seemly union to be formed between the heel of a boot or shoe. On its face it affords extra surface of union, and it can be pared or out down after union, so as to make the joint of extra strength and seemly in appearance. V

The letter f denotes nail-holes for the nails used to fasten the heel to the boot or shoe. These holes are so shaped as to permit the shoemaker to see when the nail-head sets firmly on the metal plate I) and yet small enough not to collect objects of any but minute size. They may be filled or blocked with sole-leather or other suitable material.

I claim as my improvement A rubber heel for a boot or shoe recessed on top and bottom, having an open-center metal plate embedded in the heel and provided next the face intended for union with the boot or shoe with a peripherally-extending lip or fin; all substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.

WENDELL E. HERBST.

Witnesses:

W. E. SIMONDS, LUITGARD MORBA. 

